Electrically operated printer receiver



July 22, 1952 J R. L. THOMPSON 2,604,537

ELECTRICALLY OPERATED PRINTER RECEIVER Filed Feb. 10, 1950 f\ l l 11% w, v 2, v w v @34 nTTmnnmf i IN VEN TOR. RALP/IL. 77/040 30 Patented July 22, 1952 NITED? STATES PA ENrioFFIcE ELECTRICALLY OPERATED PRINTER RECEIVER:

RalphL. Thompson, New Hyde Park, N. Y. Application February 10, 1950, Serial No. 143,421

2 Claims. (01. l78 23l I i The invention relates to electrically operated printer receiver apparatus such as is made use of, for example, in connection with toll collection facilities, watchmans stations, fire stations, etc., to identify at a point remote therefrom the operator of such facilities or stations by means of signals transmitted in conformity with a predetermined identifying number or character assigned to the particular operator. Such identifying number or means then will appear on a printed tape or the like which is located at the remote point away from. the actual physical presence of the individual sending the signal. Generally, there are introduced also time indications on the tape as by the use of conventional counter apparatus.

Heretofore, step-switching or pulse transmitting equipment was used for this purpose, the same being operative through introduction of an identifying key therein and its rotation for transmission of the appropriate signals.

It is an object of this invention to eliminate the contact difliculties prevalent in the use of pulse transmitter identifiers, as well as the operational difficulties heretofore experienced in the use of a switch type of printer receiver.

It is a further object of the invention to provide printer receiver apparatus which will admit of ready interchange of such receiver apparatus, as from one traffic lane to another, without necessitating the use of the customary tools required, viz: screw driver or soldering iron.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a printer receiver apparatus embodying a compact assembly of elements which are readily accessible for replacement.

In carrying out the invention, the novel printer receiver comprises a plurality of solenoids for operating respective printing members which are in the nature of bell cranks, one arm of which bears an appropriate printing slug while the other arm of a bell crank has a slotted pivotal connection with the plunger of a corresponding solenoid. The said solenoids are housed between two frame plates through one of which the free ends of the various plungers project and the said solenoids, together with their actuated bell cranks, are associated in a novel manner to conserve space. The electrical connections for operation of the solenoid receiver printer unit are such that they may be readily and quickly detached from the unit, as by means of conventional plug and socket members, and the unit then connected for use with a transmitter of a different facility or group of stations.

' The nature of the invention, however, will best be understood when described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the novel printer receiver, with 'a portion of .a side wall. broken away.

Fig. 2 is a plan view, and Fig. 3 a front view.

Fig. l is a rear elevation.

Referring to the drawings, in and H designate a pair of frame plates between which is mounted a bank of solenoids l2 arranged in two parallel rows with the solenoids contacting one another. One of the plates, as the plate I0, is perforated to pass respective plungers l3 of the corresponding solenoids, a, plunger being retracted when its solenoid is energized. Each of these plungers is adapted to actuate into printing position a bell crank of the printer portion of the receiver, the same being rockably mounted between a pair of side plates 15, I6 at the front of the apparatus and extending above the upper plate I0.

Retraction springs I! normally retain the bell cranks with their printing slug arms l8 against a stop is, the other arm 20 of a bellcrank then extending over and substantially parallel to the top plate H], as is indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. All of the arms 20 are connected at their respective ends to a corresponding one of the plungers i3 projecting upwardly through plate ill, the connection being a slotted or arcuate one to accommodate the angular movement of a bell crank arm. All of the arms 20, moreover, lie substantially parallel to one another with offsets as required by the connections to the plungers, and. all are within the area defined by the two rows of plungers, thus making for great compactness of the assembly of solenoids and printer members, as well as juxtaposing the slugs forv printing.

Energization of a selected solenoid may be effected when a socket 2| of a multi-conductor cable 22 has been connected to the plug 23 of the printer receiver which is provided with a plu-' rality of contacts 24 connected respectively to the solenoids. When a signal then comes over the cable through one or more of its conductors, the corresponding solenoid is energized. This moves a printing slug arm i8 to set its slug 25 into printing location which is determined by a further stop 26 aligning all of the printing slugs 25 with reference to a platen 21. A suitable paper. tape 28 or other print-receiving medium is designed to be advanced between the slugs and platen as is well understoodthe platen actuaaccess? 3 tion and print-receiving. medium feed being of conventional design.

I claim:

1. Printer receiver for printing upon a common tape signals transmitted from a remote location. comprising a pair of separated frame plates; a group of solenoids housed between the plates in adjacent. rowsof pairs of the solenoids and the individual solenoids adapted for selective energization, respective plungers for the solenoids passing through one of the frame plates; a plurality of rockable printing bars of the nature of bell cranks located above said plunger-passing?" plate, one arm of each bar bearing a printing slug, respective slugs being normallyraligned, and its other arm extending over the plunger-passing plate with its end having a pivotal' connection with the end of a corresponding plungenand all .Y I said other arms extending from their respective" connections to the plungers in close association substantiallyparallel'ito one another and substantially in the plane of said connections; individual springs for. retracting the various slugbearing arms to urge them normally in the same direction, and stop'means to limit the extentof their retraction; and further stop means for engagement with the various slug-bearing arms to fix a selected printing bar in aligned printing location when its corresponding solenoid is energized.

2. Printer receiver according to claim 1, wherein a pair of bars is provided above the plane of the saidother. arms and upon opposite sides of the slug bearing-portionsof said arms as the stop means and the further stop means therefor, respectively.

' RALPH L. THOMPSON.

REFERENCES CITED The followingre ferences are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED sm'rns PATENTS Number Name Date 275,339 Johnson a Apr. 3, 1883 330,344-

Munson Nov. 10, 1885 578586 7 Beach Mar. 9, 1897 1209;735 Lorimer v Dec. 26, 1916 1,351,333: Hoover l Mar. 29, 1932 

